Take these six steps to reduce small business debt

Are you currently paying down debt on your small business? Whether you had to take out a business loan to expand your operations, or you’ve run up balances on a few business credit cards, you’re not alone — 88 percent of small businesses carry some amount of debt. And most can benefit from tried-and-true strategies to reduce small business debt and free up capital for growth. Why reduce small business debt? Sometimes it’s necessary to take on debt to help move your business forward. In the long run, though, debt can be a small business killer. Half of all small businesses don’t make it to the five-year mark, and of the ones that close, 82 percent do so because of cash flow issues. If you’re making a profit, interest charges will cut into that, and if you’re not making a profit, they’ll put you even further in the hole. Don’t let debt run your business into the ground. By f...